No more Brit Embassy income certification letters!

From 1 January 2019, the British Embassy Bangkok will no longer be providing British Nationals with letters confirming their income.

This letter has previously served as a supporting document for obtaining a Thai retirement or marriage visa. The British Embassy Bangkok is stopping the certification of income letters because it is unable to fulfil the Thai authorities’ requirements to verify the income of British Nationals.

British Nationals should now demonstrate that they have an amount of at least 800,000 THB in an account in Thailand for no less than three months prior to the visa application, or a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB transferred into an account in Thailand for a retirement visa. For a marriage visa, the amounts are 400,000 THB in an account in Thailand for no less than three months prior to the visa application, or a monthly income of at least 40,000 THB transferred into an account in Thailand. A bank statement should be used as the supporting document for obtaining a Thai retirement or marriage visa.

All British Nationals concerned should note that the last date for income letter applications is 12 December 2018.

or a monthly income of at least 40,000 THB transferred into an account in Thailand. A bank statement should be used as the supporting document for obtaining a Thai retirement or marriage visa.

How long a history of that income is required?
Lets take a first time application. Thai bank account set up and 40k deposited monthly for 3 months before application for visa. Visa granted. One year later, same thing.
Thus, the retiree/married guy only needs 120k per year to get a visa.
Sounds like a good thing for some people, IF the history of deposits is 3 months.
If the history of deposits needs to be longer, then it's going to be very impractical for first time applicants that don't have 800k/400k.

I have just spoken with the Consular Division who, at first, had no knowledge of this change, but after I directed him to the correct website, that of the British Embassy, Bangkok, he confirmed it. He explained that

From what I'm gleaning, it's Thai Immigration that have stated that they require actual proof of either the respective lump sums/monthly income credited into a Thai bank account. This is not only for the UK expats, but all. My guess is that there's a bit of brown nosing going on for the new boss (Big Joke), showing how diligent they are and how to make a name for themselves. Let's give it a few weeks for the dust to settle.

My guess is that there's a bit of brown nosing going on for the new boss (Big Joke), showing how diligent they are and how to make a name for themselves. Let's give it a few weeks for the dust to settle.

They used to charge 2,400 Baht for each letter so it is also avoiding what must have been a lucrative income.

Not half as lucrative as the 15-25k agents and immigration officers charge to bypass this 'immigration requirement'. Mind you, that's what someone else said, and I would never suggest they're a bunch of crooks.

From what it sounds like in the report, it's everybody, not just Brits, because it's a Thai requirement.

...if that's the case, I'll get a year's worth of deposits printed out by my bank (for free) and submit that as proof of yearly income, thereby saving the theft of B1,600 for a notary stamp from the US embassy proof-of-yearly-income statement: sounds like a good deal...

...if that's the case, I'll get a year's worth of deposits printed out by my bank (for free) and submit that as proof of yearly income, thereby saving the theft of B1,600 for a notary stamp from the US embassy proof-of-yearly-income statement: sounds like a good deal...

Yep, that's what it sounds like. Half of one of your dinners Bonus.
And to reiterate, a lot depends on what length of deposit history is required. If it's too long, it will make it impossible for new arrivals, if it's only 3 months (say) then they only need 120k per year and can sponge of the wife/live like a pauper/work under the table.

Social Security offers a letter of income verification online. I can’t imagine the Thai bureaucracy accepting a printout from a website, though. They need plenty of stamps and signatures of different colors on documentation.